Children's home run by BREAK

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved in effectiveness .

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There were no requirements or recommendations raised at the last inspection.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children continue to make good progress because they live in this home. The children participate in a range of sporting activities, including rugby, athletics and martial arts. Participation in these activities has raised their self-esteem and they have built some positive relationships outside of the home with other children who attend these activities. Children choose these activities in one-to-one meetings with staff. These meetings also consider other issues raised in children’s care plans. This has supported the development of good relationships between the staff and the children.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children commented during the inspection:

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 ‘I have been going to rugby, which is good.’  ‘I am looking forward to starting my new school.’  ‘Everything is good [at the home].’  ‘I have no complaints.’  ‘Staff are helpful and take time to talk.’  ‘The holiday [with the home] was brilliant.’  ‘I am happy at this home.’

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children have been supported by staff to choose their education placements. Some children stated that they were unhappy at a specific education provision. Working together with key workers and multi-agency partners, the children have visited new schools and colleges. Consequently, these children have committed to education. One child attends college three days a week, getting up at 6am to get the bus. Since this change, the child has 90% attendance in education. He is also on track with coursework. This is a significant improvement to his experiences prior to living in this home, when he was not attending an education provision at all. A teacher commented, ‘We have worked in partnership with the home to get him to settle into this provision. He is doing very well.’

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Updated risk assessments are included in the children’s care plans. This helps the staff to understand the issues that affect the children’s lives. Children’s needs are met because staff adhere to these care plans.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children have developed positive relationships with staff, who understand their complex needs. Observation of the interaction between children and staff during this inspection highlighted the staff’s knowledge and awareness of the children’s needs. The staff use a mindful approach towards the children. A therapeutic worker commented, ‘The staff clearly understand attachment theory and trauma work, and how these issues may affect the children and how they behave. Staff have completed direct work with children. This has helped the children to settle and become able to regulate their moods. This means that the children are now able to start formal therapeutic work.’

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children do not go missing from this home. Staff are keenly alert to the risks in the community, such as exploitation. The staff use their positive relationships with and knowledge of the children to identify any signs that give cause for concern. The inspector’s discussions with the staff highlight their knowledge of the risks. The staff raise their concerns with the children, to help the children to keep themselves safe.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no complaints since the previous inspection. The manager has not needed to refer any issues to the designated officer for safeguarding in the area. There have been no notifications since the last inspection. The manager and staff identify that processes are in place to monitor the day-to-day practice of the staff. Staff have a working knowledge of, and have, historically, used the whistleblowing processes to raise their concerns about safe-care practice.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has been without a registered manager for 25 weeks. An experienced deputy manager from another home within the organisation has taken up the manager's post. He is awaiting the outcome of his registration interview with Ofsted, which is pending the receipt of checks. He holds a relevant level 3 qualification.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and deputy manager monitor and review the incidents and records for each child’s care to ensure that the children’s needs are being met.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and deputy manager continue to support the staff through regular, good quality supervision. The notes of these sessions highlight the safe-care plans for each child and consider any concerns or issues that staff may have in relation to caring for the children. All of the required staff have completed the diploma level qualification. The provider has an appropriate development pathway for staff, which provides the staff with a knowledge base that means that they have suitable skills to meet the needs of the children.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are no regulatory requirements or recommendations raised at this inspection.

p.3

Information about this children's home

This children’s home, owned by a registered charity, provides care and accommodation for up to four young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 27/07/2016 Full Good 17/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/01/2016 Full Good 25/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.4

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’.

p.5

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 who 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.

p.5

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 .

p.5

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 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,

p.6

Information about this inspection

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

p.6

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.6

Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.6