Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in West Northamptonshire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are making good progress in the home. Since the last inspection, three young people have been admitted to the home. One young person has moved on from the home to independence. When looking at admissions, the registered manager takes care in assessing information from placing authorities to ensure that staff can meet the young person’s needs. The impact upon young people living in the home is also considered. Careful matching takes place to ensure that all young people remain safe. One social worker commented on the strength of the staff in settling a young person into the home: ‘The staff have been outstanding in how they have supported the young person’s smooth transition. The staff have been fantastic; very grounded, calm and nurturing.’ Placing social workers have confidence in the registered manager and staff, with particular praise for the registered manager’s calm and practical approach.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have overseen the successful transition of a young person to independence. Planning for the move had been extensive, with high quality direct work taking place in the months before the move. Good partnership work was evident between staff and the post-18 accommodation provider to make this transition as smooth as possible. Outreach work with the young person by staff is taking place. This is to support the young person through what can be a very anxious time for them. The home continues to provide an emergency bed space. Although attached to the home, this is a separate provision for one young person only and for the duration of just 23 hours. Young people using this provision do not have contact with young people placed in the main home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All young people in the home are expected to be engaged in education, training or employment. Staff are very supportive, and determined to find the right educational setting for young people. Young people make progress educationally, and through positive experiences become more confident in their abilities. Staff encourage young people to have age-appropriate experiences, such as the routine of going to school, making friends and engaging in activities or sports outside the home. The home celebrates young people’s achievements, however small. Young people have positive and trusting relationships with staff and speak warmly about them. The home has a stable staff team. Many of the staff are very experienced, and skilled in managing challenging behaviour and risk. Staff use de-escalation techniques effectively and have a calm approach to heightened behaviour from young people. This results in a reduction of risk to young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The requirement made at the full inspection related to young people missing from care and the low level of engagement in independent return interviews. This has improved, with staff being more assertive in trying to get young people to engage. Staff follow robust multi-agency risk management plans to manage risk to young people, such as being missing from care. One social worker said that the staff, ‘hold the line’ and follow agreed plans consistently. Staff pro-actively seek the advice and support of partner agencies in managing risk. Partnership work is very effective.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff support young people to learn to regulate their own behaviour. Staff provide very consistent care and consistent boundaries. A parent commented that she had seen a difference in her daughter in just a few weeks, and attributed this to the staff having age-appropriate expectations of her daughter and supporting her to make positive choices.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have access to a good range of training. Senior members of staff have just completed a management development programme provided in house. This supports senior staff to provide good leadership in the home, as well as investing in staff and in succession planning.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Most staff have regular supervision as outlined in the home’s statement of purpose. There was a gap in supervision for a small number of staff in the period since the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recommendation made at the last inspection regarding supervision and appraisal was partially met, but a further recommendation is made at this inspection to address the frequency of supervision.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

She is a skilled and experienced manager who has exceptionally good oversight of the young people in the home and, with the staff team, strives to provide a service that meets their individual needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is owned by a large private provider.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 04/10/2016 Full Good 18/11/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 19/05/2015 Full Requires improvement 06/01/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recommendation

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:

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Recommendation

 A record of supervision should be kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33 (4)(b). (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)

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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 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 0300123 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: 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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