Birch Cottage

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

Currently, the young people at the home are settled and making positive progress. Both young people have been admitted since the last full inspection, one being an emergency placement, the other a planned transition. Placement matching in this setting is very well developed and covers a variety of risks and considerations to ensure that matching is as successful as possible. There have been some issues for both young people in respect of their education, but these have been resolved and both are attending well, with fewer incidents of education refusal. One young person is settling into a mainstream setting with a good level of support from staff and communication with the school. The other young person found a college placement too challenging and is now educated at the on-site school, where she is making significant progress in attaining independence skills. Additionally, a work placement and an off-site course have

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

been identified to promote social and independence opportunities. Two young people have moved on to alternative placements since the last inspection. Both young people were approaching a point of transition, although acted to break down their placements before they were moved on in a more planned way. The manager has reflected on these placement endings and, whilst both young people made significant (and, for one, exceptional) progress during their time in placement, he feels disappointed that they did not experience positive placement endings. One young person made allegations against staff which contributed to her placement ending. These were shared with appropriate agencies, investigated and found to be unsubstantiated. The home has acted appropriately to ensure that young people were safeguarded while the investigations were ongoing and offered a good level of support to the staff involved. Risks for young people currently in placement are well managed. Risk assessment

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

processes and records are of a good standard, as is the recording of any significant incidents. Neither of the current residents have had any serious missing from home incidents while in placement. A previous resident’s missing from home episodes were well managed and the reasons for her going missing were understood. A requirement made at the last inspection in respect of missing from home records is met, with records being detailed and clearly indicating that missing episodes are reported to the police in a timely manner. Other risks, such as self-harm, are reducing for one young person. Since the last full inspection, one young person has disclosed a serious safeguarding incident that took place relating to inappropriate (although consensual) sexual activity within the home, when staff should have been offering more effective supervision to young people. The manager has acknowledged the shortfalls in staff practice and appropriately addressed this through supervision and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

training; however, a requirement is made to reflect the serious nature of the incident, and this has an impact on the judgement at this inspection. Relationships between young people are well managed and the home makes good use of resolution meetings when complaints or conflicts arise. This helps young people learn to manage conflict in an acceptable manner and to understand differing perspectives. The staff team remains relatively stable with opportunities for staff to progress and develop. Staff report feeling supported in their roles and that morale is high, which contributes to a positive environment for young people. A young person spoken to reported highly positively both about living in the home and about her good relationships with all members of staff. The registered manager continues to support and develop the staff team so that the home can run effectively in his absence. The home works well with partner agencies to ensure that young people’s needs

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

are fully met. Regular communication with police, health agencies and schools helps to ensure consistency and joined-up working. Monitoring activity, both internal and external, continues to be a strength of the home. The manager is keen to identify areas for improvement and actively addresses these as they arise. Feedback is sought from external agencies and families to inform managers about strengths and areas for improvement.

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Information about this children’s home

This home is one of two, owned by a private company. It is registered to accommodate four young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural problems. It offers emergency, medium- and long-term placements for young people.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

09/12/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

02/03/2015 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

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure that staff understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. Specifically, that staff should not allow visitors to the home to have unsupervised contact with residents (other than those with authority to do so). (Regulation 12 (2)(a)(v)) 01/03/2017

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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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