Children's home in Coventry

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness . The home has developed and improved its service since the last inspection. The last inspection raised six requirements and five recommendations. The majority of these have been met. Managers and staff have made significant improvements in how they gain young people’s wishes and feelings and engage with them. For example, for young people whose first language is not English, interpreters attend their weekly meetings, ensuring that all young people have access to information and are helped to contribute their thoughts and ideas. Feedback sheets help individuals comment about aspects of the service. Young people are reassured, as staff take time to understand their thoughts and wishes. Independent advocates visit young people monthly to offer support and advice. Other advocates from voices from care help

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

young people think about potential changes to the way services are structured, and how these will affect them, and to formulate their wishes in respect of these plans. Consequently, young people have confidence that their views and wishes matter. Since the last inspection, safeguarding practice and procedures have improved. Each young person has a safeguarding plan, which is regularly reviewed. Managers and staff continue to work closely with police, social workers and other agencies to safeguard young people. Staff complete intelligence forms if they have any worries about a young person’s situation, forwarding these to the police, and any concerns about young people’s welfare is escalated to relevant services. All staff now receive regular practice-based supervision in line with organisational expectations. Staff who receive the necessary oversight and support to carry out their duties care for young people. A shortfall remains with staff training. Many

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

staff have not completed training in understanding child sexual exploitation, or have not completed refresher training in this field. This means that they may lack essential knowledge and understanding of this issue and its impact on young people they care for. The registered manager acknowledged that she is seeking appropriate training, and that this is a priority for her in ensuring that the service remains of a good standard for all young people. Behaviour management continues to be a strength of the staff team. Since the last inspection, there have been no incidents when young people have required physical intervention. Relationships between young people and staff are very positive, and staff take time to build up rapport with them, helping young people to build trusting relationships with adults caring for them. Staff are skilled in de- escalation techniques, reflecting their knowledge of young people’s strengths and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

difficulties. Young people now have many opportunities to develop independence skills including cooking, budgeting, and managing bank accounts. All young people have independence plans and young people and staff work together to identify and review targets, setting new ones when they are achieved. In this way, young people move towards adulthood equipped with the necessary skills and confidence ready for their move to semi-independence. Young people and staff have worked together to develop a comfortable environment in which to live. The home is a large property requiring ongoing attention and maintenance. Deficits seen at the last inspection have been repaired, but additional shortfalls were seen at this inspection. These included an area where the carpet and walls had been damaged. In addition, some of the bathrooms look bleak and uninviting. These detract from the overall positive feel throughout the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

home. Record keeping has improved. Managerial oversight ensures that standards are maintained and, when they fall short of set expectations, managerial action is taken to rectify them. If young people read their records, they will see that staff have taken every care to record information correctly, giving them a clear picture of their lives at the home. Most young people attend education or training. When they find this challenging, staff are tireless in their efforts to work with them, and other services including virtual school mentors and coaches, to identify suitable courses or apprenticeships. Communication between managers and staff, schools and other professionals is very good. A mentor said, ‘Communication between myself, the manager and the staff is very effective. Staff go above and beyond with trying to engage young people to make progress and achieve.’ Another said, ‘Staff ooze nurture and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

patience with the most vulnerable residents… and the whole team is a fantastic role model to their young people.’ Leaders and managers have improved the effectiveness of the monitoring of the service. An action and improvement plan has helped managers to prioritise areas to develop in the service, including working with staff to ensure that standards in the home are met and maintained. The registered manager continues to work closely with the independent visitor to maintain scrutiny and oversight of the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home offers care and accommodation for up to eight young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. Young people may stay on a planned medium to long-term basis according to their needs.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

30/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

13/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

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

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered person must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

(c) ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to (i) meet the needs of each child. 03/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees undertake appropriate professional development, in particular child sexual abuse training. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)) 03/03/2017

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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 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.

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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, 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,

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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 at: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

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

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