Children's home run by The Partnership of Care Today

Requires improvement

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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The children's home provision requires improvement because:

 When young people are admitted to the home the manager makes a decision on whether the home can meet the young person’s individual needs. However, the manager has not considered the impact on the rest of the other young people at the home or used the home’s location risk assessment to ensure that the environment is safe for them.  The young people’s information does not show their starting points or all the action that members of staff have taken to secure positive outcomes. As a result, young people’s progress is not always evident in their records.  Young people have had mental health assessments and the home has a copy of the findings. However, their health plans do not reflect the findings and how their emotional health is being addressed.  Young people’s risk assessments are not robust because they do not give members of staff information about the strategies that have been agreed or what action they need to take if an incident was to occur.

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The children's home provision requires improvement because:

 Several of the young people’s documents are not signed by the author, local authority, the manager or members of staff. This does not ensure that all parties are aware of or are in agreement with the information contained in them.  The home has not notified Ofsted when young people have been missing from the home overnight. Therefore, Ofsted is not aware of the action that the home is taking to secure their safe return.  The independent visitor’s reports about the quality of care within the home are brief. They do not look at the content of the records and evaluate them. As a result, they have not identified several shortfalls in the home’s records that have been raised in this inspection, such as, the lack of signatures on young people’s documents.

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The children’s home strengths

 Members of staff have worked closely with young people to address concerns or behavioural difficulties. This has enabled one young person to return home and another has been moved on to foster care. Good transition plans show that this was done sensitively and successfully.  There is a new manager at this home. She has successfully completed her registration with Ofsted. She is a very experienced childcare professional and has made excellent progress in addressing some shortfalls within the home. For example, there is now a full staff team and significant pieces of work have been completed with them to ensure that the quality of care and the relationships with young people are good.  The excellent support given to members of staff and the relationships that they have with young people have significantly reduced the negative behaviour in the home. This means that young people have not been restrained for a significant period.

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The children’s home strengths

 The home has focused on ensuring that young people are consulted and that their views, wishes and feelings are heard. Therefore, young people are engaging in their placement more and often make suggestions for improving the home. For example, they have all recently had their bedrooms redecorated in the style of their choosing.  Several professionals commented on the home’s improved communication with them. As a result, they voiced their confidence in how the home cares and keeps young people safe here. A safeguarding professional said, ‘This is a good home where members of staff go beyond their duties to ensure young people are happy and safe.’

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard the registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a) that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended.

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to having a robust impact risk assessment in place that includes looking at the compatibility of the group, using the location risk assessment to ensure that young people will be in a safe environment and it being individual to each young person. 31/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard the registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(1)(a) that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home.

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to showing their progress within their records and any action staff need to take to secure positive outcomes. 31/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the health and well-being standard the registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(1)(a) that the health and well-being needs of children are met.

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to their emotional health and support required. 31/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered 31/01/2017 person must:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child.

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to having robust, individual risk assessments that include agreed strategies and actions for staff to take. 40: Notification of a serious event

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI without delay if an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious or of any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. In addition to this, the notification must include details of any action taken by the registered person as a result of the matter. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(e)(5)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to when young people are missing from the home overnight. 31/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

44: Independent person: visits and reports

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded and that the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to evaluating the quality of the records in the home. 31/01/2017

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Recommendation

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Staff should be familiar with the home's policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recordings. This includes ensuring that records are up to date, signed and dated by the author of each entry. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Information about this children's home

This privately run children’s home can provide accommodation for up to three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 24/11/2015 Full Requires improvement 24/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 24/09/2014 Full Good 28/01/2014 Interim Good progress

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Requires improvement

There have been several placements at this home since the home’s last inspection. Last year, the home went through an unsettled period of time and the young people were displaying negative behaviours. A new manager took over in January 2016 and she focused on having firm boundaries in place and working with the staff term to secure good outcomes for young people. For a period of time, she restricted introducing other new people into the home. This was successful and allowed members of staff to build positive relationship with the young people. This resulted in one young person returning home and another moving into a placement near his home town. Since this time, other young people have now been admitted. One young person has recently moved into foster care and three young people are currently living here.

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Requires improvement

When referrals are made to the home, the manager completes an impact risk assessment to look at whether the home can meet the young person’s individual needs. However, this should reflect the consideration given to the impact of new admissions on other young people currently in placement. For example, whether they had similar needs or individual behaviours that would affect each other. In addition to this, it was unclear as to how the home’s location risk assessment was taken into account when accepting a referral. In particular, to assess whether there were any environmental issues that would influence the decision. This does not ensure that all considerations are taken into account and that young people are placed safely.

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Requires improvement

Young people said that they were welcomed into the home and that they received a welcome booklet that members of staff went through with them to explain the routines and boundaries. Young people were very complimentary about their care. One young person said, ‘This home feels like a home and not a care home.’ Another young person said, ‘I want to be at home with my family but as care homes go, this one is good.’ Young people said that they get lots of opportunities to discuss their care, what they want to do and how the home can do better. Therefore, they said that they felt that they were fully involved in their care.

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Requires improvement

All the young people have the local authorities care plan, placement plan and their own placement plan, which is called ‘my progress plan’, on file. However, these documents had not been signed by the social worker, manager, parents and some members of staff. The manager rectified this on the day of inspection but the young person had been at the home for three months prior to these being signed. This does not ensure that all parties agree with the plans and that they know when changes have been made to the plans. In addition to this, all of the young people’s plans, such as their health plan, education plan and placement plan do not clearly show the young people’s starting points, the action that members of staff have taken to secure improvement and the progress that they have made over time. As a result, young people may not be able to understand their journey when accessing their records now or in the future.

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Requires improvement

Young people are at different stages in engaging with the home and with members of staff. One young person is doing extremely well. She said, ‘I like living here and the staff always listen to me.’ Another young person is starting to see the benefits of working with the home. He said, ‘I am quite settled and I know that there are areas I need to work on.’ Another young person is not engaging with the home and is often absent from the home. Members of staff are working closely with a range of professionals to look at his care and they are trying to engage him through good incentives.

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Requires improvement

Young people’s physical and personal health has improved. One young person has been supported through incentives, such as beauty treatments, to improve her appearance. This has been successful as she now takes pride in her appearance. Young people who have previously refused to attend routine appointments now go on a regular basis. One young person has been supported to receive the dental treatment that she required. Initially, she was scared but, with staff members’ support and encouragement, she is due to have some treatment in the near future. She said, ‘I am still scared but I know it will be OK. I am getting purple braces.’ A mental health assessment has been completed on one young person and the home has a copy of the report. However, the findings of the assessment have not been included in the young person’s health plan. Therefore, it is unclear as to whether there were any actions for the home to take or whether members of staff know

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Requires improvement

what emotional support is required. This does not ensure that young people’s emotional health is adequately understood or addressed.

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Requires improvement

Young people are at different stages in engaging in education. One young person attends a mainstream school and her attendance and progress have steadily improved. She has received some commendations for achievement and effort. She said, ‘I am doing well and the staff help me with my homework. I want to work with kids when I am older but I do not know in what field yet.’ In contrast to this, two young people have alternative educational placements identified, but they have rarely attended for different reasons. One young person said, ‘I do not like school. I only have six months to go and I want to go to college or do an apprenticeship. I want to be a brick layer.’ The manager is working closely with the virtual head and the identified education placement to look at his options in the area. The other young person refuses to engage in any education and it has been difficult to address this with him as he is often missing from the home. The manager

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Requires improvement

continues to request and attend educational meetings to discuss his lack of engagement. A professional said, ‘It is really difficult to get him to engage in anything, but the home tries their hardest and they have not given up.’ Young people are able to maintain and sustain relationships with their family and friends because there are good contact plans in place. The young people do not currently have any restrictions to their contacts but the manager said that this would be highlighted in their plans, if necessary. One young person put his continuing good behaviour down to the fact that the home have sorted out his contact with his family. He said, ‘I get a bus pass so I can see them when I want to. Therefore, there is no need to go missing from the home or behave badly. I come home on time and I have settled down.’

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Requires improvement

Young people said that members of staff talked, listened and were interested in their life. They said that they had several opportunities to discuss the running of the home, to share their wishes and feelings and to raise any concerns. Young people were very clear on how to raise a complaint and knew who else they could contact outside of the home, if they needed to. One young person said, ‘We have key worker sessions and kids’ meetings to discuss anything we want or if we are not happy. (The manager) always gets back to us and lets us know what’s going on.’ Therefore, young people said that they were fully informed and involved in their care and with things that were going on in the home.

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Requires improvement

Young people are offered a range of activities, such as going to the beach, the cinema, for walks or for meals out. The home generally encourages young people to include their friends in these outings. This is a strategy used by the home to build and encourage good relationships but also to try to break cycles of poor engagement or them being missing from the home. One young person went on holiday to a caravan park with her friend and had a really good time. One young person prefers to spend time with his family and friends but does enjoy going out shopping and having meals out with members of staff. As a result, young people are sustaining friendships and have fun in the local community.

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Requires improvement

The home has recently been decorated and young people have been instrumental in choosing and planning this. They have all chosen a new colour, style and soft furnishings for their bedrooms. This has helped them to take pride in their home. For example, they rarely damage items and help tidy and clean the home. This also helps them to learn skills for their independence. As a result, young people live in a warm and welcoming home.

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Good

Young people said that they were safe and happy at this home. They put this down to members of staff listening to them and showing concern for them. One young person described this by saying, ‘This is a home not a care home.’ Young people described their relationships with members of staff as ‘great’, ‘fantastic’, ‘like family’ and ‘caring’. They put their improving behaviours down to the good relationships that they have. One young person said, ‘I may not always agree but I trust them and I know that they are only doing things because they care about me.’

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Good

Young people said bullying was not an issue at this home. They were confident that members of staff would quickly address any issues if they heard or saw something. The manager has recently had a private training company at the home to talk about bullying and the impact of it. Therefore, members of staff are fully aware of the signs to look out for in and out of the home.

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Good

There have been no reportable safeguarding incidents. Members of staff fully discussed their roles and responsibilities in this area, with the inspector. For example, one member of staff clearly understood the whistleblowing policy and said that she would be confident to raise a concern. Another member of staff discussed what action she would take if she came across a safeguarding issue. This included contacting the right people, keeping clear records that distinguished between fact and opinions and ensuring that young people’s accounts were recorded in their words. In addition to this, the manager was confident that any allegation against a member of staff would be robustly investigated.

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Good

Young people’s behaviour has significantly improved. This is because the new manager has spent considerable time in ensuring that there is a full staff team and that they understand their roles and responsibilities. Firm boundaries are now in place and there is a positive structure that focuses on incentives for young people to work towards and on listening to young people’s views. As a result of this, young people have not been restrained, there has been no damage to the home and the home has not had to call on the police for assistance to manage young people’s behaviour. Several professionals said that the good systems in the home have allowed young people to grow and become accountable for their negative behaviour.

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Good

Some young people have significantly reduced their periods of being reported missing from this home. One young person said that this was because the manager had ‘sorted out’ his contact arrangements. Another young person attributed this to the very good incentive schemes in place and the opportunities to discuss things through with her key worker. For example, she has received several beauty treatments, such as, having her hair styled, makeovers and having her nails done. In contrast to this, one young person is constantly reported missing from the home. This has affected his education, he has missed health appointments and he is not engaging with the home on any issue. Members of staff are concerned for his well-being and continually try to contact him when he is missing. They search the local area and known addresses that they are aware of. The missing from home coordinator from the police said, ‘Unfortunately, he will not engage with

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Good

anyone. I do not think it would make any difference where he was placed. The pull to his family and friends is too strong.’ She continued to say, ‘This home does way above what we expect of them. The manager is very proactive in ensuring strategy meetings are arranged and she is pushing the local authority to make a decision about his care. We continue to work very closely together to ensure that he is [as] safe as possible.’ However, Ofsted have not been informed when the young person has been missing from home overnight or for several days. Therefore, Ofsted were not aware of the action that the home was taking to secure the young person’s safe return.

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Good

Some young people have significantly reduced their risks that they initially presented with, prior to coming to this home. For example, returning late, being reported missing and self-harming. Young people say that this is because they have settled here, are happier and that staff have done things to help them. For example, one young person can now visit his family and stay overnight. The home provides his family with money to provide for him while he is there. They also purchase a weekly bus pass and because of this, he returns on time. Therefore, some risk assessments are no longer in place and have been archived. The current risk assessments and behaviour management plans are incorporated into each young person’s placement plan. The placement plan starts off with potential risks, then discusses unrelated issues, such as, health, education and contact, then a risk description and then how appropriate rewards, consequences, key working

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Good

sessions and training of members of staff can reduce the risk. However, they do not link the work undertaken to reduce the risk, there are no agreed strategies for members of staff to de-escalate situations or actions for staff to take when incidents occur. This does not ensure that members of staff work in an informed and consistent way to reduce risk-taking behaviour.

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Good

There has been a significant reduction in the use of sanctions because of the improving behaviour of young people. This is evident in the increase of positive rewards. Young people say that when sanctions are applied, that they are fair. One young person is trying very hard and is saving for a new console. Another young person has been to a seaside resort with her friend and both have been out for meals. These rewards have been to celebrate attendance at school, for helping out round the home or just in recognition of a positive week. This shows that the home celebrates all achievements regardless of how small and young people appreciate this and show it in their good behaviour.

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Good

The home’s environment is safe because the manager ensures that certificates and testing of appliances are carried out when they are due. Young people and members of staff regularly complete evacuations of the home. This ensures that all parties know what to do if an emergency occurs. In conjunction with this, the home has a good location risk assessment in place. The manager has consulted with a range of professionals, such as the local community police and the missing from home coordinator to use their knowledge of criminality and child sexual exploitation in the area well. For example, an adjoining local authority area has a high risk of gang culture. Therefore, the manager has ensured that no activities or visits to this area are undertaken. This further safeguards young people.

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Good

New staff undergo robust checks before starting their employment at this home. This includes verifying references, having criminal checks and ensuring that their employment history is correct. For example, any gaps in their employment history are scrutinised and accounted for. This means that young people are protected from unsuitable adults, as far as possible.

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Good

There is a new manager at the home. She was registered with Ofsted in September 2016. She has been a registered manager several times before and has also been an operational manager for the company. She began her career as a nursery nurse and then qualified as a social worker. She wanted to work closely with young people and believed she could do this in a residential setting. As a result, she has a vast experience of working with children and young people from an early age up to adulthood. She is suitably qualified and is support by a well-qualified staff team. For example, seven out of the eight members of staff have a recognised qualification in childcare and one member of staff is completing a similar course.

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Good

Last year, the home received a judgement of requiring improvement to be good in all areas. The company recognised that they needed to improve and put this experienced manager in position. She has spent a significant amount of time to secure a full staff team with the experience or life skills to work with young people, discussing their roles and responsibilities to young people, building up good communication with a range of professionals and parents, sourcing additional training courses for staff and listening to young people’s comments. This has been highly successful. Young people, parents, staff and professionals all commented on the improvements of the home, the good communication between them and how well some of the young people are now doing. The manager also recognised that she had spent a lot of time in these areas and that she had overlooked other things, such as, ensuring that all documents were signed. Therefore, she

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Good

understood that there were further improvements to be made, especially in evidencing young people’s progress. She had begun to address some of these issues in the home’s development plan. This means that the home strives to improve the service given to young people.

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Good

The home’s statement of purpose is a good document that details the ethos of the home and the service it provides to young people. Professionals confirm that they have had receipt of it and say that it reflects the care given to young people. It is updated when required.

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Good

Members of staff say that they are well supported through good supervision, appraisals and handovers and staff meetings. They say that this gives them several opportunities to discuss young people’s progress, any concerns and to reflect on their development and practice. Similarly, they said that training opportunities help them to care for young people well. The manager said, ‘Due to the complexities of some young people and growing concerns in the general public arena, I have sourced additional training for staff.’ This has included training around Asperger’s and autism, radicalisation and extremism and deprivation of liberty. She has also had professionals come to the home to talk about bullying and around young runaways. This means that staff members’ knowledge is informed by research and practice and this helps them to care for young people well.

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Good

The manager has successfully challenged local authorities when they have not been proactive or responded to young people’s needs. For example, one young person’s pathway plan was drifting. The plan was for her to return home but there were no timescales in place. This meant that the young person did not believe that it was going to happen and said that she had nothing to work towards. The manager challenged the local authority to make firmer plans, put in timescales and to consult better with the young person. A good plan was put in place and she returned home. Her mother said, ‘The home have been brilliant and supportive. I never thought she would come home and it is all down to the hard work staff have done.’

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Good

An independent person visits the home on a monthly basis to assess the quality of care given to young people. However, the report is brief and gives an overall statement rather than evaluating the records. For example, it states, ‘Young people have local authority plans, placement plans and the home’s progress plan. They are aware of these.’ It does not say who is aware, who they checked this out with and what the content of the plans are like. Additionally, the independent person had not identified that a number of these plans had not been signed by the relevant parties. This is not helpful to the registered manager nor does it give the home constructive feedback on how to improve or develop further.

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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 looked after children 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 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 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 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

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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