The Banyan Tree

Inspector Mary Timms

Inspection date 26/01/2017 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

The aspirational and highly effective leadership and management team have ensured that children continue to receive exceptionally well-planned and nurturing care. Children with complex individual needs each make significant progress compared to their starting points on admission. Feedback from parents and external professionals demonstrates that joint working is highly effective.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Each of the four residents is happy and very settled in a long-term placement. Comments from parents include: ‘(Child) is the happiest I have seen him.’ Children are very confident in the care that they receive and know that the staff genuinely care about them. Comments from children include: ‘It’s cool here.’; ‘The best thing is having staff that I can rely on and talk to.’; ‘It is homely.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children have numerous opportunities to engage in stimulating and enjoyable activities. Recent examples include attending a pantomime at a local theatre and a trip to London. One child attends army cadets and has ‘not missed a week as he enjoys attending so much’. Children are encouraged to become more independent at a speed appropriate to their individual needs. One child is now visiting the town centre to shop unsupervised and another is working through a plan to ultimately attend church independently. As a result, children’s self-confidence is improving and they are able to develop a sense of evolving independence. Children are in good health and understand the importance of physical activity. Swimming, trampoline club, football and bike riding are regular activities children engage in.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children, who historically have had poor school attendance records, now attend every day and are reported as progressing well with their education. To support educational attainment further the provider has recently contacted a tutor to work with each child on a weekly basis.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Internal and external monitoring systems are high effective, and always include consultation with children. The manager utilises a variety of monitoring processes to identify the progress each child is making. These also enable adjustments to be made, if needed, to individual placement plans. The highest focus is afforded to service development. Recent developments include additional work to ensure that each child has a memory book to reflect their time at the home. The service has contracted a tutor to provide additional direct support to each child in relation to education. A very new initiative is the introduction of a more focused way of working with children based on trialled research. ‘Great Dreams’ promotes happiness and positivity by building resilience, among other focus areas.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s safety and general well-being is always at the centre of the very nurturing care provided by staff. Staff are highly motivated and want only the very best for each child. There have been no incidents of children going missing or being absent without permission. The team has worked hard over recent months to identify patterns to certain behaviours and have adjusted their practice accordingly. As a result, there has been a vast reduction in the use of holds for one particular child, with no physical intervention being necessary for the last 53 days.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The one recommendation set at the time of the full inspection has been addressed. Arrangements are in place for each child to take part in a ‘Bikeability’ road safety course over the coming half-term holiday. This will further strengthen safeguarding arrangements.

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Information about this children's home

This home is privately owned and is registered to provide care and accommodation for five children who have emotional and behavioural difficulties, who may also have a learning disability.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 08/09/2016 Full Outstanding 15/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 04/11/2015 Full Good 14/01/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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

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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