Children's home run by Chartwell Care Services Ltd in Islington

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

This home has an enthusiastic, experienced manager who is currently undertaking a leadership and management qualification. A number of staff have recently been recruited and the manager is growing and developing the staff group. Staff receive a thorough, protected induction that provides time for them to observe practice, familiarise themselves with policies and procedures, and attend essential training. This means that there are sufficient staff, supported by experienced senior staff, to meet the needs of the children. A recently appointed member of staff said: ‘The support has been amazing. At the end of each shift I have the opportunity for a debrief with the manager or a senior member of staff. I receive constructive feedback.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has an action plan in place to address a requirement made at the previous inspection, in respect of meeting the safeguarding training needs of the staff team. A number of staff have received training in safeguarding children who have disabilities. The manager has attended training about allegations against adults who work with children. All staff will be attending similar training. In the meantime, learning from this training by the manager has been shared in team meetings and supervision sessions. This is essential given the vulnerabilities of the children living in the home. Although some staff have the relevant care qualifications, a number of staff are in the process of completing them. The manager is overseeing the arrangements for this.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the previous inspection, there was a concern that the provider had made a decision about a child’s placement outside of a statutory review. In addition, the placing local authority and provider did not have a shared view of the child’s needs, and risks associated with some of his behaviours. This has been fully addressed by the home’s manager and the case-responsible social worker. Following a number of multi-agency meetings, including a statutory review, the child’s care plan has been agreed. The home manager has been tenacious in ensuring that all information about the child’s needs and behaviours have been fully considered. As a result, there is a comprehensive plan in place for additional assessment and interventions. The children’s rights officer has visited the child to establish his views and wishes. It was assessed that he was happy in this home. There has been a planned new admission of a child to the home since the previous

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

inspection. All information about the child’s needs were carefully considered, and there has been sensitive preparation with both the new resident and current resident prior to admission. This included staff creating a social story with photographs, about the home and about sharing, for both children. The child’s respite carers and parents were involved in the transition.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have supported this child to attend school again after a significant break. Staff liaised with the school and agreed a timetable to suit his needs and anxieties. He has been enjoying outings and activities in the community. He has visited a stables and will be starting horse riding lessons. This is significant progress from his starting point. A parent said: ‘We are pleased that he is attending school and going out, we are pleased with his care. I am confident that the staff understand his needs.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children have regular contact with their families and staff facilitate and support contact arrangements. Families report that they have good communication with home staff, receiving regular updates about their children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children have detailed health plans. One young person has his weight monitored and staff encourage a healthy diet and provide supplements when necessary. Staff have purchased the same resources that the school is using with one child, regarding puberty and sex education. In this way he is receiving consistent information to support his understanding of personal development. Children are learning to self-manage their personal care. One child has been to have his hair cut and attend a dental appointment with the support of staff. This is progress from his starting point.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person always finds the autumn period, with the lead up to a number of celebrations, including Christmas, very difficult. He has displayed some challenging behaviours at times. The manager has ensured that there has been sufficient staff capacity to carefully manage this, and to ensure that staff are supported. There were ongoing discussions in team meetings and with other professionals regarding strategies to reduce challenging behaviours. There was an increase in physical interventions during this time, to prevent him harming himself and others. Staff have followed the appropriate procedures, and interventions have been time limited and generally low level. The manager has reviewed all incidents. Risk assessments and ways to defuse challenging behaviours and intervene appropriately are updated when needed. There have been no concerns about the safety and welfare of children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager appropriately referred to the social worker and designated officer when a child appeared to make a complaint. This was independently assessed and all concerns have been resolved.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

While there has been some progress in the collation of information held for each child, and evidence of information being sought from case-responsible social workers, the information in children’s files has not always been updated. In addition, the inspector found that the records in respect of personal care of children required more clarity. A recommendation is made to address this.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Overall there is evidence of progress in addressing the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection. There have been a number of changes to the staff team. The manager is in the process of addressing the individual training needs of all staff, and consolidating progress made. There has been slow progress in respect of ensuring that children’s records are consistently good. Records require improved oversight by the manager and better quality assurance mechanisms. This has led to the judgement of sustained progress.

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Information about this children's home

The home is privately owned and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children who have learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 19/10/2016 Full Good 15/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 25/11/2015 Full Good 05/03/2015 Full Outstanding

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Children's case records must be kept up to date and signed and dated by the author of each entry. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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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, 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

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

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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