Children's home run by Thoughts of Others Limited

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:

 Young people experience a significant number of physical restraints.  Physical restraints records do not always hold all essential information.  Some physical restraints have not been proportionate.  Allegations against staff have not been notified to HMCI.  Staff supervision records are not always practice related.  Some staff have not received annual appraisals.  Young people do not receive planned key-work sessions that help them to develop.  Young people do not benefit from a stable and consistent staff group.  Young people do not always have access to their records and do not contribute to their plans.  Young people do not have the use of a computer.  The six-monthly report does not take into account the views of young people, their families and professionals and is not completed within regulatory timescales.  The statement of purpose has not been updated with correct information about the home.

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The children’s home strengths

 Young people’s education attendance improves.  Young people enjoy doing activities and spending time with each other.  Young people enjoy seeing their families regularly.  Staff make sure that young people’s health needs are met.  Staff help to make sure that young people are able to develop their life skills in readiness for adulthood and independence.  The manager has positive working relationships with external agencies, including placing authorities.  The manager ensures that safe recruitment practice is followed, to protect young people.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) 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

8: The education standard (1) The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (b) that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning. 14/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

11: The positive relationships standard (1) The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— (a) mutual respect and trust; (b) an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and (c) positive responses to other children and adults. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff— (v) communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; (ix) understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children. 14/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard (1) The protection of children standard is that children are 14/02/2017 protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff— (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies.

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard (1) The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— (a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— (e) ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (g) demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— (ii) feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received. 14/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

14: The care planning standard (1) The care planning standard is that children— (a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (f) that staff help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in relation to the child. 14/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (‘the statement of purpose’) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. If the home has a website, the registered person must ensure that a copy of the statement of 14/02/2017 purpose is published on that website unless the registered person considers that such publication would prejudice the welfare of children in the home. (Regulation 16(1)(4))

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20(2)) 14/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience and have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33(4)(b)(c)) 14/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40(4)(c)) 14/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes the date, time and location of the use of the measure and details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(iii)(v)) 14/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review’) at least once every six months. In order to complete a quality of care review, the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it. The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(1)(2)(b)(5)) 14/02/2017

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is operated by a private company.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

21/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

26/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Requires improvement

Young people’s progress and experience living in the home are variable. Some young people who have been living in the home for a while are now able to have unescorted time in the community and no longer need one-to-one staffing. An independent reviewing officer said, ‘[Young person] has made progress since being at the home emotionally and socially… We are starting to see a different girl.’ A young person’s mother said, ‘Mentally, she has come on and she is emotionally stable.’ Staff help to make sure that young people’s health needs are met. Young people develop an understanding of how lifestyle choices can affect their health. For example, staff help young people to eat healthily and to exercise more. Young people are registered with appropriate medical professionals and attend routine appointments. Staff monitor young people’s emotional health and liaise with the appropriate agencies as necessary. Consequently, young people are receiving the

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Requires improvement

medical help that they need for both their physical and emotional health. Young people’s education attendance improves. Young people either have education on site or attend the company school. Some young people’s attendance has increased to 98%. This is a significant achievement for some young people. However, young people do not have adequate resources to engage in independent study in the home. This is because they do not have access to a computer. This limits their education achievements. Young people do not always have the opportunity to engage in key-work sessions, their placement plans or have access to their files. This hinders young people being involved in their care planning, including benefiting from regular key work sessions. Young people benefit from living in a nice and comfortable home. This extends to young people being able to have their bedrooms how their wish. This includes having

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Requires improvement

personal belongs and choses over the décor. Young people told the inspector that they know who they could go to if they are unhappy and are confident they can speak to staff and/or make a complaint if this was necessary.

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Requires improvement

Young people are encouraged to engage in activities of their choice. For example, young people participate in trampolining and doing arts and crafts. They like going ten-pin bowling and playing five-a-side football at Power League. Young people’s relationships with each other, overall, are good. Young people said that they like each other and have bought and wrapped each other Christmas presents. There are no incidents of bullying. As a result, young people enjoy doing activities and spending time with each other, which increases their self-esteem and confidence. Young people are encouraged to develop their independent living skills. For example, the staff encourage them to engage in household chores, tidying their bedrooms and cooking. This means that young people are able to develop the skills that they need for their transitions into adulthood and independence. Staff have good insight into the particular needs of young people living a long way

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Requires improvement

from home and they promote family relationships. Staff provide transport and supervision when necessary. They make sure that visits take place and that they are successful. Contact is supported in the home, should it be required. A young person’s grandmother said, ‘I have stayed for dinner and [young person] cooked the dinner.’ This makes sure that young people maintain a sense of identity and family heritage.

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Requires improvement

Young people make positive comments about their care. These include enjoys each other’s company and feeling safe. One young person spoke about loving the food and because of the help they are getting they are move forward in their life. The staff’s lack of understanding of behaviour management puts some young people at risk. There are high levels of restraints used in the home. In some instances, staff struggle to manage behaviours displayed by some young people. For example, staff use physical restraints when a young person is refusing to go to bed or to listen to staff. One young person has been restrained 72 times over a period of 14 weeks. Some of these restraints are disproportionate and do not promote the young person’s emotional well-being. There are a number of restraints consisting of holding young people on the floor or on their bed. The recording of the restraints does not always provide an adequate account of the rationale for

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Requires improvement

staff using them. Staff do not always document the measures that they have taken to try to de-escalate the situation or to record the location of the restraint. The registered manager has not ensured that shortfalls in records have been followed up with staff, or that their reasoning for some restraints have been ascertained. The registered manager has not followed the home’s policy and procedures in respect of reviewing physical interventions. During the inspection, not all restraint records were available. This was because they could not be found. Young people told the inspector, ‘They do not like being restrained.’ Managers are not gathering information to enable them to track incidents, evaluate staff responses and improve plans to protect young people. The lack of risk management review does not provide an opportunity to learn new ways of managing difficult situations and to make sure that all restraints are

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Requires improvement

appropriate. As a result, young people’s safety and welfare are compromised. Young people are closely supervised and, as a result, do not go missing from the home. They are not currently at any risk of child sexual exploitation. However, risk assessments are weak. They do not clearly identify risk or strategies that staff need to follow for young people. Furthermore, risk assessments are not kept up to date to reflect changing needs. As a result, there is a lack of preventative work, in order to minimise future safeguarding incidents and to change young people’s views and thinking. Managers have not been effective in making sure that all allegations are referred to Ofsted, as required from the last inspection. Managers have notified relevant safeguarding professionals, but failed to notify Ofsted.

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Requires improvement

A suitably qualified and experienced manager who has been registered with Ofsted since November 2015 manages the home. The registered manager is a qualified social worker and is currently working towards her level 5 diploma in leadership and management in residential care. The registered manager is also managing another of the provider’s homes and, as a result, has not been at this home regularly. The manager has not kept the statement of purpose under review and revised it when necessary. For example, the statement of purpose does not reflect changes in staffing and staff qualifications. This leaves anyone outside the organisation without up to date information about the home. Staff supervision records do not always demonstrate that staff receive practice- related supervision. This includes the absence of detail to show how supervision has reflected on the staff member’s care of young people. This means that staff

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Requires improvement

have not had an opportunity to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. Some staff appraisals are out of date. These arrangements negatively affect the manager’s ability to assure young people’s safety, monitor their progress and manage staff performance. All staff have undertaken mandatory training. Some staff members are qualified. Those who are unqualified are within regulatory timescales at present to obtain their qualification within two years of starting work. Managers have employed a core group of staff since the home’s last inspection. However, young people can on occasion experience changes in the staff supporting them. This is because sometimes staff are moved to other homes in the organisation. This means, young people do not always have the stability of staff caring for them The manager has developed working relationships with external agencies, including

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Requires improvement

placing authorities. This is reflected in the positive feedback from professionals and family members. The home adheres to safer recruitment processes. Checks of new staff are undertaken prior to their commencing work in the home. This ensures that only those adults who are considered safe care for the young people. Internal and independent monitoring reports demonstrate that the registered manager has some understanding of the shortfalls in the home. The six-monthly report was sent to Ofsted two months late, and the registered manager has not taken into account the opinions of young people, parents, professionals and staff. This is a missed opportunity to improve the quality of care through the views of stakeholders. Two requirements made at the last inspection have not been met and have therefore been repeated.

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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 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

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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.

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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 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

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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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