Greenfields

Ruth Coler

Inspection date 12/01/2017 Previous inspection judgement Outstanding Enforcement action since last inspection None

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding 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

At the last inspection, carried out in November 2016, no requirements or recommendations were made. The home has continued to develop as a result of reviewing its practices and procedures.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The new manager has successfully been registered by Ofsted and continues to have a positive impact on practice in the home. He has taken time to settle in and gain a good overview of the service, its routines and day-to-day organisation. Overall, this transition process has worked extremely well.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two children have moved into the home since the last inspection and both are settling very well. The detailed and extremely comprehensive referral and assessment process continues to ensure appropriate placements and that children benefit from the whole package of care, education and therapy. Children previously not engaged in education or therapy are able to start school and engage in therapy as a result of the careful planning. For some children this is the first time they have been in education for many years. In addition, previous presenting behaviours such as enuresis or aggression quickly diminish or stop completely.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Safeguarding matters are competently identified and addressed. The registered manager has good links with the external safeguarding agencies for advice and referrals. He has recently joined the local authority child sexual exploitation working group which enhances his connections with a range of professionals across the region.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are cared for by a team of mainly female staff. The registered manager is aware of the gender imbalance and the need for future recruitment to focus on creating a better mix of gender, if possible. The staff team is well organised and provides a caring atmosphere in the home that children respond to very well. Staff continually and positively praise the children. They act as suitable role models in, for example, showing good table manners and kindness to each other. The children soon learn that they can trust the staff and that they are really cared about. Over the Christmas period staff heard two children talking to each other: one said, ‘I told you it would all work out good here.’ It is clear to see the caring and sensitive relationships the children develop with the staff team and how they listen and respond to advice and encouragement. Despite the many challenges the children face on a daily basis, staff make sure the children do have fun at the home and can

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

enjoy the range of activities on offer after school.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has developed the skills of the staff team. He is leading in a collaborative way and giving staff responsibilities they are able to competently deliver. For example, more senior staff now oversee daily community meetings and take on different areas of responsibilities, such as managing staff rotas, monitoring of training or overseeing the care records. In addition, he has changed the staff’s working rotas to ensure they get two days off together each week. This enables staff to have time to recover emotionally as well as physically. This is an important change considering the highly therapeutic environment the staff work in. The registered manager maintains a good oversight of all areas of practice in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children have many ways of making their views, wishes and opinions known. This includes daily community meetings, therapeutic sessions, key working sessions and questionnaires. These are used to contribute to the home’s development plan.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is an extensive outdoor area where children can cycle, run and play football. The previously developed ‘beetle mound’ has proven successful and now there are plans for the development of a forest school on land behind the home. This will provide an additional education resource where children can extend their learning about nature and experience forest life skills. A member of staff is currently undertaking the necessary training. There are plans for further outdoor play equipment to be bought.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The monitoring and auditing in the home remains robust with very detailed monthly independent visitor reports commenting on the safeguarding and quality of care in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are two areas the registered manager needs to address. A very recent fire service risk assessment recommended replacing a material sofa located near the stairs due to the risk it poses if a fire occurred. This has yet to be actioned although discussions are being held about what to replace it with as it is often used by staff and children to ‘chill out’. The home does not have an emergency plan to refer to in the event of a major incident such as electrical failure or very poor weather.

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to accommodate up to 10 children, of either gender, aged 5 to 14. Children move on at the age of 14. The home specialises in the treatment of children who have severe emotional and/or behavioural problems. The home is a specialist therapeutic residential community providing care and treatment to psychologically traumatised children. It is operated by a charitable organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 09/11/2016 Full Outstanding 29/12/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 22/07/2015 Full Good 11/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must ensure that the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2) (b))

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Requirement Due date

This relates in particular to the removal of the material sofa located on the ground floor under the stairs. 28/02/2107

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take into account the following recommendation:  If, in an emergency situation, the registered person has to move a child out of the home to other accommodation, the accommodation should be suitable and meet the child’s needs. The placing authority should be contacted immediately. If the child is looked after, a statutory review should be convened as soon as possible after the emergency move has taken place. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.13)

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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 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 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 0300 123 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 children looked after 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

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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