Children's home run by Reading Borough Council in Reading

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness . The requirement from the last inspection has not been fully met. Permission for the independent person to view the children’s files has been obtained for four out of the five children. However, the independent person has continued to view all the files during monthly visits. Following this inspection, the home has taken swift action to gain the final consent. Not all of the recommendations made at the last inspection have been fully implemented. Most staff have now received emergency first aid training, medicine administration is being correctly recorded and a risk assessment is in place regarding the locked side gate. However, there continues to be inconsistent recording of food temperatures. Medication for children is kept in a locked cabinet in the staff office. Records of

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

destroyed or returned medication have not been consistently signed and dated by members of staff. It is not always clear whether medication has been returned or destroyed. Staff and managers know the young people well, and young people’s key workers are committed and knowledgeable about their needs, interests and behaviours. Staff utilise a range of techniques to manage and improve behaviour in the young people. All staff have recently attended ‘intensive interventions’ training to assist in developing relationships and positive interactions with young people. The use of visual cues and engagement of the young people in the day-to-day routines of the home has continued to develop their skills and to reduce anxieties and associated behavioural challenges. Good-quality up-to-date risk assessments that reflect most young people’s circumstances are in place. Staff have been actively involved in reviews of children

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

and have good working relationships with parents, social workers, the designated officer and schools that the children attend. Staff and managers are ambitious for the young people and work closely with external and internal professionals to improve the young people’s emotional needs and behaviours to enable them to reach their potential. Celebration of festivals and annual events, such as Halloween, Easter and Christmas, is evident in the young people’s life journey files. Their achievements are celebrated in their individual achievement folders and on notice boards in the lobby of the home. Staff support young people’s individual interests and take them out to events taking place in the community, such as black history week, as part of experiencing different cultures. Young people’s bedrooms are comfortably furnished and reflect their personalities and interests. The home is warm, inviting and decorated to a good standard. There

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

are toys and games available for the young people to enjoy and there are numerous visual communication aids throughout the home to support the children to express themselves as well as to manage shared spaces such as the bathroom. One young person spoken with was positive about her experiences in the home and the support that she receives from staff to develop her interests and independence skills. There is an advocate who visits the young people regularly and young people are enabled to express their wishes and views by both the advocate and staff in the home. Safeguarding of young people is generally well managed. Since the last inspection, there have been three safeguarding incidents which staff have responded to immediately and appropriately. However, checks on children’s welfare have not been completed consistently in all instances, which resulted (on one occasion) in a child’s injuries not being identified and assessed within an acceptable timescales.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home does not have an e-safety policy, and staff have not received training on e-safety. Not all staff have received training about child sexual exploitation. Risk assessments reflect medical or physical issues only and do not consider risks arising from the actions of young people, such as from access to the internet. Practice indicates that risks – including those arising from use of the internet / social media – are well managed through the relationships staff have developed with young people, there is a risk that without clearer direction staff may not always identify and respond consistently and proactively to individual children’s circumstances to reduce and prevent risk of harm.

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home is registered for five young people who have disabilities. The home cares for young people who have a wide range of learning disabilities and communication difficulties, and who present as having high levels of risk and challenging behaviours. Some children are looked after on a shared-care basis with their own families

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

03/02/2016 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness 15/09/2015 CH - Full Outstanding

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Recent inspection history

02/02/2015 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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

The registered person must ensure that the independent person carrying out visits to the home only inspects a child’s case records if the child and the child’s placing authority consent. (Regulation 44(2)(b)) 31/01/2017

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Requirement Due Date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. This is 31/01/2017 in regard to ensuring that all medication is correctly labelled for individual children and that records of medication that is disposed of or destroyed are consistently signed and dated. (Regulation 23(1)) The registered person must ensure that staff are trained to identify and respond to signs of sexual exploitation and abuse, including via the internet. (Regulation 2(a)(iii)) 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due Date

The registered manager must develop and implement an e- safety policy. (Regulation 34(1)(a)) 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due Date

The register manager must ensure that all staff follow the home’s procedures for reporting and recording safeguarding issues and accidents and that communication regarding expectations is effective. (Regulation 2(2)(v) and Regulation 2(b)) 28/02/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislation (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, April 2015, page 15, paragraph 3.9). In particular consistently obtain and record records of the temperature of hot foods cooked on the premises, and retain an explanation of any gaps.  Risk assessments in relation to access to the internet and social networking sites should be undertaken for any young person who has access to such while in the home. Appropriate preventative work should be undertaken with the young person to assist them to keep themselves safe. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, April 2015, page 45, paragraph 9.9)  The registered manager is required to ensure that care is provided for each child

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Recommendations

according to their needs and actively to assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. This is in regard to ensuring that a risk assessment is in place regarding the use of an audio/visual monitor and any risk associated with the power cord. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.2 and page 43, paragraph 9.5)

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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 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, work based 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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