Children's home run by Blackford Education (schools) Ltd in Somerset

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.2

The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people say that they are happy and they feel safe. They recognise that they are doing well at the home. Young people get along well together and have a good relationship with staff.  Staff understand young people‟s needs and experiences. They provide a nurturing, homely environment with clear and consistent boundaries.  Young people have excellent attendance in education, training and work experience placements. There is a good working relationship between staff at the home and school. Young people are supported at school in-line with their care needs.  Young people have good opportunities that develop them socially, emotionally and physically. They receive good all-round health promotion.  Good quality care planning takes place and is demonstrated in the careful consideration of young people placed together, and shows the progress they are making since moving into their new home.  Staff receive good quality training and supervision. There are thorough

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

recruitment procedures in place.  The manager completes good regular monitoring of the home‟s records and procedures. Her auditing processes are clear and transparent.  Placing authority representatives and a parent provide very positive feedback about the care that young people receive.  Areas for improvement identified are an update to the behaviour management policy, the independence of the monthly visitor, maintenance of the home and challenges being raised to a placing authority through the appropriate channels.

p.3

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

p.4

Requirement Due date

35. Behaviour management policies and records

p.4

Requirement Due date

(1) The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out— (a) how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children‟s home; and (b) the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

p.4

Requirement Due date

(2) The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it. 28/02/2017

p.4

Requirement Due date

(1) The registered provider must appoint, at the registered provider‟s expense, a person (“the independent person”) to visit and report on the children‟s home carried on by the registered provider.

p.4

Requirement Due date

(4) An employee of the registered provider is not, by reason only of that employment, disqualified under paragraph (3)(a), (b) or (g) from appointment as an independent person if the employee is employed solely to examine and scrutinise critically— (a) the way that a home is carried on or managed; and (b) the quality of care provided for children. 28/02/2017

p.4

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:

p.4

Recommendations

 Beyond local authorities, there are other people, bodies and organisations that have responsibilities towards children in children‟s homes. Many of these are referenced specifically in the regulations and guide. They might include health and education services, local safeguarding children‟s boards, leaving care services, independent reviewing officers, voluntary agencies, the police and youth offending teams. This list is not exhaustive. The important thing is that homes take the initiative in identifying others who must play a part for their children and engage with those relevant people proactively, advocating for the children in their care. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 12, paragraph 2.7)

p.4

Recommendations

 For children‟s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments; with particular reference to ensuring the house is adequately heated and bathrooms are sufficiently maintained. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 15, paragraph. 3.9)

p.5

Information about this children's home

The home is operated by a private company that also operates a number of other homes and one school in the locality. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 07/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/01/2016 Full Good 20/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 27/11/2014 Full Adequate

p.5

Good

The manager‟s matching of young people living together is good. Careful consideration was given to their relationships before they moved in. Young people spent time with each other, they visited the home and observations were made on how they interacted. They all now report that they feel safe and enjoy living at the home.

p.6

Good

All young people have made a lot of good progress since they moved into the home. This is evident through good quality care planning, which is regularly updated with their achievements and personal developments.

p.6

Good

Young people complete an independence training programme at the home and key worker sessions at school. These programmes are linked to develop their social, emotional and practical skills to prepare them for living by themselves. Young people learn how to keep themselves safe while using social media and the internet. They all take part in a „Skillsforce‟ programme, where they have achieved awards that further their confidence and experiences.

p.6

Good

Young people receive good health promotion. Staff ensure that they have good quality, nutritious food and have plenty of fun physical activities. Young people are registered with the necessary medical practitioners and access the treatment they require. They also spend time with a play therapist as part of their timetable at school. As such, they develop their physical and psychological health and have good opportunities to discuss their feelings.

p.6

Good

Young people have excellent education and training opportunities. They all have a bespoke timetable, which involves vocational work and volunteering to complement their academic studies. Young people have work placements with the National Trust and animal sanctuaries. All young people have an up-to-date education, health and care plan, or a statement of educational needs.

p.6

Good

Young people demonstrate they know how to complain and raise issues they would like to be discussed. They feel listened to and supported by staff to resolve their concerns.

p.6

Good

Staff provide a nurturing environment that is welcoming and supportive, with appropriate boundaries in relation to young people‟s behaviour. They meet the young people‟s needs in a way that a good parent would. Staff understand young people may have previously experienced environments where their needs have not always been consistently met. When young people come from school they are asked to get changed, complete their homework, join in sitting around the dinner table and take time to play or relax. These routines benefit young people.

p.6

Good

Staff have genuine affection and enthusiasm to help young people to progress in their life. They join in playing games with young people, take them to the park and help them with domestic chores, such as learning to use a washing machine and learning how to shop for food and cook.

p.7

Good

All social workers report that they are happy with the quality of care and young people‟s progress. One reports that it is a „five star home‟ and staff deliver a „very high standard of care‟. Another comments that staff respond to the young people „calmly and safely‟. A parent also states that „staff are providing opportunities for my son at an appropriate level.‟

p.7

Good

The home environment has undergone extensive decoration. Many areas are complete and look fabulous. Young people are involved in the design of the home and have chosen to have an exclusive gaming area, complete with three large screens and a bean bag each. Further decoration is required to the bathrooms and the landing ceiling, as well as ensuring the heating throughout the house is sufficient. The manager is aware of this and is taking the necessary action.

p.7

Good

The help and protection offered to young people is good. There is no bullying and no significant issues between young people. There has been one recorded occasion of a young person running away from staff. Staff managed this incident well and kept him within sight or stayed in the vicinity in which he was hiding from them. The young person was offered an independent return to home interview and was talked to about why he ran away. Following this, appropriate steps were taken to manage his emotions and unsettled behaviour.

p.7

Good

Staff have used one restraint since the previous inspection. The record of events are accurately recorded and the young person has no complaints about being held by staff. The parent of the young person was informed of this event by the young person and not from staff. The positive behaviour management policy requires updating to include notifying parents and carers, where appropriate, when their child has been restrained.

p.7

Good

Staff follow well-written risk assessments and behaviour management plans. In response to young people‟s behaviour, they are instructed to make clear instructions and expectations of appropriate behaviour and wait for improvements. Staff have only used a sanction on one occasion. This was fair and proportionate and followed up in discussion with the young person. Staff are aware they must supervise young people when two of young people are together, so any disagreements are resolved without escalation.

p.7

Good

The manager and staff have regular safeguarding training. They are aware of their responsibilities to report welfare concerns about young people or suspicions of harm. There have been no child protection concerns or safeguarding allegations reported since the previous inspection.

p.8

Good

The manager ensures that the necessary physical and environmental checks of the premises are conducted at the appropriate timescales. She reviews the location of the premises annually. All new staff are vetted by thorough recruitment checks before they commence working alongside young people. New candidates are told their application will not be considered unless all previous employment dates and gaps in their employment history are fully detailed from the outset.

p.8

Good

The manager has been in post since September 2016 and has been registered with Ofsted from December 2016. She has the experience and qulaification for the role and is furthering her professional development by completing the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare. The manager is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and has a good developmental plan to strengthen and advance the service.

p.8

Good

The manager runs the home in-line with the statement of purpose. The main aim of the home is to support and promote independence opportunities for young people. They benefit from living in a safe and stable environment where they can gain confidence, build their self-esteem and enhance their resilience skills. The manager can demonstrate the difference that living at the home has made for these young people.

p.8

Good

The manager ensures good communication and working relationships with all stakeholders and agencies. A parent reports that the manager „provides a balanced view of events‟. One social worker feels that he is „always alerted to what is happening at the home.‟ Another social worker states the manager‟s communication is „second to none‟ and she ensures that the home fulfils its contractual obligations. An area for improvement discussed at the inspection is for the manager to explore and pursue the appropriate channels of escalating concerns that they have about a transition plan for a young person.

p.8

Good

The manager effectively leads the staff team. Staff feel supported and have frequent supervision, which is used to discuss their development and guide their practice. Supervision is valued as part of ensuring staff are completing the role to the best of their ability. Both parties agree to supervision contracts and staff are expected to attend supervisions prepared with the aspects of their work they wish to talk about. There is good evidence the manager is instructing staff to develop their skills and also examples that staff are reflective and listen to the advice given.

p.9

Good

Staff take part in good training opportunities that are clearly seen as essential to their role. Individual records show the courses that staff have completed, and their future training needs are routinely discussed in supervision. Staff complete a wide range of courses. One staff member‟s comments reflect that a recent course he attended for supporting children with autism had been very helpful in developing his communication skills.

p.9

Good

The home‟s polices that were sampled are of good quality, routinely updated and helpful to staff. The child protection policy, for example, covers all key areas in sufficient detail and is easy for staff to use.

p.9

Good

The monthly monitoring completed by an individual who does not work at the home is not independent. The individual holds three other roles within the company, including elements of staff training, recruitment and disciplinary procedures. The director of care acknowledges this presents as a conflict of interest and has plans to appoint a different visitor in the new year, who will have no conflict of interests.

p.9

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‟.

p.10

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 children looked after 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

p.10

What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or that result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

p.10

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 that 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 whom 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

p.11

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 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.11

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.12

Information about this inspection

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

p.12

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.12

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.12