Children's home run by Quantum Care UK Limited in North Northamptonshire

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 sustained effectiveness .

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The experiences of children and young people and the progress they make continue to be good and in some cases excellent. One young person commented: ‘Living here has made a big difference to my life. I get to go out and have fun with staff and friends. I am calmer and much happier.’ Another, who is due to go to university next year, reflected on her 3 years living in the home by saying: ‘I have grown up and worked out what I want to do with my life. I am so much more confident and happy. Moving here was the best thing for me. It has been my safe place as staff are encouraging and always there for you.’ Children’s and young people’s lives stabilise and their life chances improve.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Professionals spoken to during the inspection speak positively about the service and the progress that children and young people make. One social worker said in respect of a young person: ‘He is now achieving things that he previously wasn’t, in terms of his education and his safety. He has formed appropriate peer relationships, had friends over for tea, and his drug taking and missing incidents have significantly reduced.’

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Partnership working is well developed. The manager’s strong links with partner agencies help ensure that children and young people receive the right support at the right time. A social worker commented: ‘The manager has accessed the right services. The external input has been good. The young person has engaged well and as a result risky behaviours have reduced.’

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Very good support provided to older young people helps them to prepare well for adulthood. They develop practical life and independence skills. As well as this, staff help them to develop emotional resilience, while at the same time ensuring that educational achievement remains a priority. A young person said: ‘I am on semi- independence. I have completed all modules of the semi-independence programme and I feel I have now got the confidence and skills I will need when I go off to university.’ This will serve the young person well when she moves on to the next stage of her life.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In respect of missing incidents, due to the actions of staff, children and young people with significant histories of going missing and being at risk of sexual exploitation become much safer. For all children and young people currently living in the home, missing incidents have either significantly reduced or stopped. On the few occasions when children or young people have gone missing, staff have robustly followed individual protocols and worked in close partnership with the police to secure their prompt and safe return. A social worker commented: ‘In respect of missing, incidents have significantly reduced and when they do occur they are now for hours rather than days.’ Following missing incidents, although independent return interviews are occurring, the written reports of such interviews are not being routinely shared with the staff in the home. This is a missed opportunity to learn more about the reasons why such incidents occur and reduce

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Clearly formatted behaviour management plans provide staff with concise written guidance in respect of how to best support children and young people manage their behaviours with positive and proactive approaches. The implementation of these plans is effective, resulting in infrequent recourse to the use of physical intervention. On the 6 occasions when this has been necessary as a very last resort, debriefs with children and young people and the staff involved follow. Additionally, robust management oversight and analysis from the registered manager, as well as a senior leader, of every incident helps maintain high standards of practice in this area.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager continues to provide strong leadership to the home. She has strengthened consultation systems with children and young people, and since the last inspection she has addressed a recommendation in relation to placement matching by implementing a more detailed impact assessment when considering new referrals for placements. She also now speaks directly with local authorities about risks and needs relating to the potential new and current residents before making decisions about admissions, thus reducing the risk of placement disruptions in the future.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has also addressed a gap identified at the last inspection in relation to recording by ensuring that staff now always sign and date plans as and when they update them. Recording practices could however be improved further by staff recording why planned direct work sessions have not been completed, if children and young people refuse to engage in it, and what creative efforts have been made to engage children and young people who are reluctant to participate in direct work.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Monitoring and quality assurance systems continue to be comprehensive. The manager tracks children’s and young people’s progress against clear targets on a monthly basis. Internal and external quality assurance reports highlight the strengths and areas for development in the home. This, alongside the manager’s passion and dedication, has helped ensure that good, and in some respects outstanding standards of care, have been maintained.

p.3

Information about this children's home

This children’s home is part of a large organisation operated by a private company. The home provides care for up to 6 children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 01/06/2016 Full Good 07/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 18/12/2015 Full Good 11/02/2015 Full Outstanding

p.4

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Ensure that the home takes into account the information provided within return interviews after any missing-from-home incident, when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘The Guide to the Quality Standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30).

p.5

Recommendations

 Ensure that children's case records are kept up to date, with particular reference to staff recording why planned direct work with children has not been completed, whether children have refused, and what attempts have been made to directly engage children in the planned work. (‘The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 62, paragraph 14.3’).

p.5

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.6

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.

p.6

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.6

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,

p.7

Information about this inspection

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

p.7

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.7

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

p.7