Children's home run by Lynstead Children’s Services Ltd in Cannock Chase

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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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

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

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Two requirements were made at the previous inspection in August 2016. One requirement related to ensuring that members of staff complete the level 3 diploma within the required timescale. The two members of staff who had not completed this qualification are no longer working at the home. Other staff who do not hold this diploma are working towards it.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The other requirement related to implementing the therapeutic ethos outlined in the statement of purpose. Some progress has been made. A clinical psychologist now regularly visits the home and meets the staff team to discuss the young people’s specific needs and strategies to support their development. However, the statement of purpose states that staff will receive training and support to deliver therapeutically informed parenting practices to meet the complex needs of the young people. The staff team has not received training to implement this approach. Consequently, managers are not delivering the ethos as set out in the statement of purpose. This may have implications for placing authorities in assessing whether the home is the right one for a child and whether the home will be able to respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Young people are settled in the home and making good progress. They respond to the nurturing and individualised support that they receive from staff who deliver high-quality care with warmth and good humour. All young people are engaged in their education on a full-time basis and are making good progress. Education provision is tailored to meet their specific needs, enabling them to benefit from specific programmes designed to promote their attendance and achievement.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Young people have developed meaningful and trusting relationships with staff to the extent that they are able to talk to staff about their feelings and past experiences. Young people benefit from a focus on their emotional needs and staff’s close liaison with the child and adolescent mental health service. Incidents involving young people being reported missing from the home have significantly reduced. There have been three such incidents since the last inspection.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The registered manager effectively leads the staff team, role modelling a therapeutic, nurturing approach. When young people present challenging behaviour, staff are motivated to try to understand the meaning of this behaviour and implement support strategies which take into consideration their complex needs.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Staff rarely use physical intervention to manage young people’s behaviour. Staff know young people very well and are skilled in using de-escalation techniques to support them in times of distress. A recent incident that involved staff attempting physical intervention was not recorded appropriately.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Care plans and risk assessments show that staff recognise young people’s individual needs and the risks that they face. Some risk assessments do not accurately reflect changes in young people’s behaviour. Key work records demonstrate positive changes in behaviour but staff have not considered these developments when reviewing risk assessments. Also, staff have not carefully evaluated the potential of harm when an issue is identified in a young person’s assessment when coming to live at the home. There are no assessments in place that consider the risk to young people of radicalisation.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The home is currently being redecorated. Young people are taking an active interest in improving the home. They are fully involved in choosing colour schemes and new carpets. The registered manager is committed to providing young people with a homely and modern living environment.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The registered manager provides strong leadership and management and clearly places the needs of young people at the forefront of practice. Young people are benefiting from high standards of care, becoming increasingly safe and achieving positive outcomes.

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 17/08/2016 Full Good 14/03/2016 Full Requires improvement 05/11/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 30/12/2014 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

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (5)) 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure that staff:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. 10/03/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Records of restraint must be kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)

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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 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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children 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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