Children's Home run by White Orchid Care Limited in Milton Keynes

Inspector Emeline Evans

Inspection date 18/01/2017 Previous inspection judgement Sustained effectiveness Enforcement action since last inspection None

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Outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Children are given support to reach their full potential and truly thrive. The staff have successfully created an environment where children feel they belong.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Staff demonstrate an extremely thorough understanding of each child and they support them to reflect and learn from the way they may feel internally.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Staff are very aware and proactive in their thinking about the importance of building and sustaining attachments. This reflection and the therapeutic approach which underpins it give the children security and contribute to building their self-esteem.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Children achieve excellent outcomes which result in sustained improvements. For example, children have disengaged from destructive behaviour and are better able to manage, engage and be part of the group.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Children make excellent progress in education. They have consistently high levels of attendance. Educational achievement is high, taking into account their starting points at the time of placement.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Staff are proactive at anticipating risks and reflect on unsafe behaviours with the children during frequent key worker sessions.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Children learn tolerance and respect from the excellent role models that the staff provide.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 The whole team is inspirational and ambitious in promoting positive experiences for all the children.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 The manager ensures that the staff team continually strives to develop and improve. Staff are encouraged to find training that will benefit the children. The team embraces new ideas and there is an overwhelming enthusiasm to further improve experiences for children.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Consider when to notify Ofsted when there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 63 paragraph 14.10)  Establish whether the units completed in the candidate’s original qualification have content which corresponds with the units of the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 68 paragraph 1.2)  Ensure that the individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person makes a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home's care, and that the reports produced are sent in to Ofsted in a timely

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Recommendations

manner. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65 paragraph 15.5)

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Information about this children's home

This service is a 52-week, four-bedded therapeutic children’s home for children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties, aged between six and 14 years old. It is run by a small private organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 20/04/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 06/07/2015 Full Outstanding 24/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Outstanding

The organisation’s vision and aim for children is that: ‘Residential care should not be an institutional experience; it should be a warm and nurturing space where children can learn what a safe family home can feel like.’ This is evident in practice, and in the belief and passion of staff. Children are given the support they need to reach their full potential and truly thrive. Staff and children describe the home as ‘their family’. The staff have successfully created an environment where children feel they belong.

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Outstanding

The same group of children has been in placement for over 14 months. Although they can find group living and the boundaries associated with this difficult at times, they are settled and can reflect on their journey since moving to live in the home. Through the individualised support provided by the staff team, children begin to understand and come to terms with their past experiences which may influence their behaviour and give rise to difficulties in forming relationships. Staff demonstrate an extremely thorough understanding of each child and they work together with the child to support them to reflect and learn from the way they may feel. All aspects of how the staff work is therapeutic, and children are secure in the knowledge that people are available to them to help them process traumatic past events and experiences. Excellent attachments have been formed as a result. Staff are conscious of the importance of building and sustaining attachments and do this

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Outstanding

well. For example, when staff go away on annual leave they let the child know when they will be back with notes on blackboards. When the manager went on leave she brought a teddy in for the children to look after and to name while she was away. This reflection and therapeutic approach gives the children security in knowing they are being thought about and contributes to building their self- esteem. Staff were seen to genuinely care and respect the children. Equality and diversity is celebrated; there is a culture of treating all with dignity and respect. Children ask questions and staff do not shy away from providing them with information and advice. Children are beginning to develop a sense of their own identity through these open conversations.

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Outstanding

Children achieve excellent outcomes which results in sustained improvements. For example, children are disengaging from destructive behaviour and are becoming able to manage, engage and be part of the group. They now take pride in their appearance and were seen to be happy and confident in their demeanour. Children engage in the therapy offered and through this support are finding other ways to understand and manage their sometimes challenging emotions. Parents spoken with during the inspection process commented on how their children can talk to the staff now and the positive impact this has had on previous difficult behaviours. Children make excellent progress in education. They have consistently high levels of attendance. Educational achievement is high, taking into account their starting points at the time of placement. Staff guide, encourage and support them fully in this area. The organisation transport children to school as they feel this is an

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Outstanding

important activity that assists in the development of relationships. Children have been able to form friendships in school and they now socialise outside of school hours. This has been an achievement for children who previously found socialising and peer relationships difficult concepts to accept and experience. They are proud of these achievements and are keen to share, which is an example of improved confidence.

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Outstanding

Children are confident in speaking out about day-to-day living matters in the home. The culture of openness provides opportunities for children to raise grumbles or formal complaints. All forms of complaints are taken very seriously; there haven’t been any from children since the last inspection. Children’s views on the home are taken into account on a daily basis, and children are informed of the reasons if their suggestions are not acted on. Sometimes children are not happy with the outcome for some requests and staff explain the reasons behind these in a sensitive manner.

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Outstanding

Staff encourage children to be as independent as possible given their age and maturity. This is carefully considered for each child. Staff work with children to help them recognise risk, and understand how to keep themselves safe. As a result children are now recognising situations where they feel uncomfortable and talk to staff about this.

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Outstanding

Children who spoke with the inspector reported they felt safe in the home. Parents and a professional reiterated this. Staff are proactive at anticipating risks and reflect on unsafe behaviours with the children during frequent key worker sessions. Children are on the journey of recognising that at times some of their behaviours aren’t safe, and staff need to step in to ensure that they are helped to recognise this. There is a consistent and therapeutic approach to care with effective role modelling in place. This has resulted in children having a strong sense of well- being. There have not been any instances where children have gone missing since the last full inspection in July 2015. Children will speak freely to members of the staff team if they are upset. They feel confident that staff will support them to work through the reasons why they are upset and to develop strategies to reduce their anxieties. There is good communication with therapists to ensure that children

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Outstanding

The staff are knowledgeable about the particular vulnerabilities of the children and have a range of effective risk assessment documents to refer to which enable a consistent approach in reducing known risks. Children currently in placement are not identified as at risk of child sexual exploitation. However, staff are very aware of the risks and indicators. Children are given advice in an age-appropriate way on how to keep safe, including when using the internet. Staff are clear with children about their expectations with regard to on-line devices and children respect and understand the reasons for this. All staff undertake safeguarding training and receive regular refreshers. This ensures that they are kept up to date with the action to take should they have any concerns about a child’s safety or well-being.

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Outstanding

Children respond well to the tight boundaries set by staff. Staff are trained in the home's approved behaviour management programme. Proactive work by staff in reviewing the use of restraint has resulted in one hold no longer being used. When physical restraint is used there is highly effective managerial oversight. Records of restraint now contain more detailed information and children’s risk assessments identify any precautions to take. In recent months the number of interventions has decreased. Staff communicate clear expectations regarding boundaries that help children to begin to understand the consequences of their behaviour. Children are encouraged and supported to reflect on their behaviour and consider how it impacts on others. Children respond very positively to the rewards and consequence system implemented by the home, and their achievements are very well celebrated. Sanctions are not punitive and are used effectively.

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Outstanding

Children learn tolerance and respect from the excellent role models that the staff provide. None of the children raised bullying as a concern during the inspection. Any incident is closely reviewed and addressed in a fair manner. During the inspection children were seen to interact very positively together. Staff recognise that, due to the ‘family’ atmosphere created, there are times when children will argue. Staff work through these instances, for example using the ‘team work ladder’ and children develop a stronger tolerance of others.

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Good

Children are clearly the priority within this home. Staff and managers describe the children’s well-being being as paramount in all decisions made. The whole team is inspirational and ambitious in promoting positive experiences for all the children. The home has a suitably qualified and experienced manager who has been registered by Ofsted in this home since February 2015. She has the necessary qualifications, provides good leadership and also receives support from experienced senior members of the organisation. The manager is able to recognise the impact that the children’s home has had on the children and how they progress from their starting points on arrival at the home. She leads by example and uses all necessary resources to ensure that the aims set out in the statement of purpose are fulfilled. A therapeutic environment has been successfully created.

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Good

The manager ensures that the staff team continually strives for development and improvement. Staff are encouraged to find training that will benefit the children. They feel well supported. The manager keeps abreast of current issues in the field of social care and cascades these to the staff team. The team embraces new ideas and there is an overwhelming enthusiasm to further improve experiences for children. There are currently three staff members that have previously completed a level 3 qualification before working in this organisation. However, the manager has yet to establish whether the units completed correspond with the necessary childcare qualification. She has yet to identify if there are any gaps in their qualification.

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Good

The registered manager ensures that the home is well organised and staffed to provide children with stability and consistency of care. This is evident from a long standing staff team and with the policy of not using agency staff. Staff say they love working at the home and this has resulted in some staff who have previously left returning to work there.

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Good

There have been no admissions or discharges since the last inspection. The children currently living in the home are being very well prepared for moving onto foster placements when that time is right for each child. The manager very clearly advocates and acts in the best interests of each child with regard to when they are emotionally ready to move on from the home.

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Good

The manager has good monitoring systems in place, such as regular file audits, internal monitoring reports, and supervision and appraisal of staff. This contributes to her thorough understanding of the strengths of the service and any areas requiring improvement. The team is constantly looking at ways to further improve. The aims and objectives of the home are understood by authorities that place children in the home. A professional confirmed the service provides `very good care and support’. Staff are very knowledgeable about the therapeutic models of care identified in the statement of purpose and know how these are implemented in practice. An independent person visits the home but reports of these visits have not been sent into Ofsted at regular intervals. Reports contain repeated text and would benefit from more evaluation on the level of service being offered to children.

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Good

Allegations or suspicions of harm are shared appropriately with external safeguarding agencies for consultation and advice, and appropriate action is taken. Comments from a professional stated, ‘I am confident that the manager was acting in a manner that would prioritise the safety of the child concerned.’ There are effective procedures in place for monitoring incidents, allegations and safeguarding concerns in the home. Significant events relating to the safety and welfare of children have been notified to Ofsted. However, when there has been indecision about whether safeguarding concerns will be escalated by the placing authority, the home has not notified these to Ofsted. This does not ensure that the regulator is kept up to date with all matters of safeguarding within the home.

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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 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 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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